Answer: It makes transactions easier and less risky for federal buyers
Listed below are the ways a GSA Schedule make it easier for a federal buyer to purchase from a small business supplier. The list below shows how a GSA Schedule has an advantage in all six areas purchasing agents care about.
| Category | Advantage of a GSA Schedule |
|---|---|
| Risk Reduction |
-Reduced schedule risk (speed of MAS) -Lower Protest Risk -Extensive and deeply experienced acquisition resources -Use on and Off Ramps -Defined and controlled pool of available contractors |
| Savings |
-Time Savings because Enterprise BPAs can be done in 3-6 months -Money Savings because of the cost for each days delay. |
| Flexibility |
-Ability to use On and Off Ramps (Ability to add/cancel new vendors to BPAs) -Employ performance metrics with time extension incentives -Wide selection of contractors -Discretionary Set-Aside Ability -Wide array of contract types |
| Efficiency |
-Building with the use of an already established contract -Contractors already have shown they are determined and responsible -Contractor have met all required clearances |
| Value |
-Contractors have received Training and Support throughout the process (both classroom and on-line) -GSA Schedule Electronic Tools Assist Market Research, Dissemination of RFQs and Ordering -Statement of Work (SOW) reviews -Tech Panel Support |
| Control |
-Flexibility in ad agency-specific clauses and provisions -Agencies retain maximum flexibility for “Best Value” Source Selections -Recurring requirements can be satisfied with BPAs rather than Agency Indefinite Contracts |
This compilation of advantages the GSA Schedule System brings to small business are why the average firm with a GSA Schedule have more than $1MM per year in federal sales from their schedule.
Results
Small Businesses selling on the GSA Schedule System account for 37.2% of federal procurement on the GSA Schedule System or $13.6B in annual sales. These 12,000 firms therefore average over $1MM each in federal contracts. This compares favorably to the 23.8% of all federal contracting dollars small business have federal government wide.